QuoteReplyTopic: The ribbon that went with it! Posted: 03 Aug 2018 at 12:25pm

From my time in service, late sixties to end of seventies, how many folks do you know that held an Navy Expert Rifleman's Ribbon? Even the Pistol Ribbon was few and far between among Bubbleheads. How many with the silver "E" indicating accomplishing the feat I believe five times, or being a competition shooter. I held both, and was a competition shooter. Gotta love those off crews. Not rubbing things in, just stating how I did it. As I still shot competition when I had shore duty at SIMA Charleston.

Edited by Sewer Pipe Snipe - 03 Aug 2018 at 2:37pm

Walt, Had I done everything right throughout my life, the World wouldn't have noticed.

From my time in service, late sixties to end of seventies, how many folks do you know that held an Navy Expert Rifleman's Ribbon? Even the Pistol Ribbon was few and far between among Bubbleheads. How many with the silver "E" indicating accomplishing the feat I believe five times, or being a competition shooter. I held both, and was a competition shooter. Gotta love those off crews. Not rubbing things in, just stating how I did it. As I still shot competition when I had shore duty at SIMA Charleston.

Now that is impressive, Walt. And is vastly different from my experience. When I was in the 3rd ID in Wurzburg my boss, who was a Combat Arms LTC, took me to the range to qualify on the .45. Of course, I had no side arm and had not been issued one even though I was the Division Psychologist, since psychologists rarely go armed, even in a combat zone, which Wurzburg definitely was not. So he loaded and handed me his standard issue .45, pointed toward the target and said let's see what you can do. I figured what the hell, I can do this. After all, I "qualified" on the .45 in the Navy and used to field strip mine when I got bored on topside watch. So, I took careful aim and commenced to bracket the target kicking up dirt all around the damned thing and only struck it once . . . and it sure wasn't anywhere near the bulls eye. If they gave medals for not killing someone while target shooting I would have won it. So, after grunting something under his breath that was probably derogative, since he was always complaining about those sorry hospital slackers we went back to the office (which of course was in the hospital). Needless to say he was quite disappointed in my marksmanship and never took me shooting again. Prior to that sorry performance I thought I was a fairly decent shot. Guess again, boysan.

It has been my experience that folks who have no vices have very few virtues.~Abe LincolnSS-393, SSBN-610(B), SSBN-624(G), SSN-591USSVI Life Member; Holland Club; Plank Owner, Smoky Mtn. Base

The single half hour session I spent at the Sub Base range firing a few rounds through a .45 1911 when I was on the Edison (1963 -1965) was the sum total of training on the .45 I received during my entire 8 years in the Navy. It was more a 'familiarization' than qualification. The only other firearm that I was 'trained' on was the M-1 in boot camp in 1960 where I loaded and fired only a couple of clips. And, yes, I did get my thumb out the way quickly enough to avoid anything more than a slight scrape.

It has been my experience that folks who have no vices have very few virtues.~Abe LincolnSS-393, SSBN-610(B), SSBN-624(G), SSN-591USSVI Life Member; Holland Club; Plank Owner, Smoky Mtn. Base

What? I thought all widgets had to have at least one case of M-1 Thumb. You know, until you figured out what the flat of the hand was for. Marines used to tell me you could spot a Navy Garand without checking for the chamber insert by looking for the blood corrosion on the bolt.

Walt, Had I done everything right throughout my life, the World wouldn't have noticed.

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